67 ways to outlive 106 billion people
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Unless there is some remarkable advance in medical technology between now and the year 2092, I will not live to see 2093. The oldest known human, Jeanne Calment, died at the age of 122 in 1997. So unless I outlive the longest-lived human, I am doomed. Keep in mind, for me to outlive her would mean that my lifespan would exceed that of the preceding 106+ billion people who have lived on the planet. I don’t like those odds. However, I plan to do my best to beat them.
That’s why, like Khrushchev, I will bury you. I won’t be happy, of course, I’ll feel terrible. But it wasn’t anything I did. In fact, it was a lot of things I didn’t do that made the difference between us. Some of them I had already started to do in 2007. Some of them were things I picked up doing later in my life. Sure, I should have done them sooner, but at least I started doing them eventually. Some of these were things I never did in the first place, which helped me even more. I actually hoped that you would start doing them too. So why will I bury you? Simple… because I:
- always, always, always wear a seatbelt.
- don’t eat meat except on rare occasions.
- always stay positive.
- am the master of my thoughts. I control them; they never control me.
never skip breakfast. - eat organic foods when available, natural when they aren’t and never touch any sort of artificially created foodstuffs.
- never add salt to my food.
- make at least 50% of my diet raw vegetables and fruits.
- steer clear of drugs.
- don’t smoke.
- don’t keep a gun in the house.
- run at least 3 times a week at a reasonable pace.
- do moderate weight training.
- have a positive outlook on life.
- do not work in a job that I hate. In fact, I love my job.
- am no longer afraid of money and give it no power over me.
- made a decision to be free of money, have that goal written down and carry it with me everywhere.
- treasure my time with my family.
- take care of my health by making regular visits to the doctor.
- floss.
- drink alcohol in moderation.
- never drink and drive.
- understand that the root of all suffering was craving.
- no longer subscribe to militant atheism but instead allowed myself to believe in a gentler agnosticism, and most importantly not to obsess on a battle that’s really not relevant to my life.
- play with my kids.
- love my wife without reserve.
- maintained strong relationships with my extended family.
- give back to my community.
- never dwell on the past.
- never dream too much of the future.
- stay fully engaged in the present.
- am grateful
- do not watch TV.
- no longer have violent entertainment in my life.
- never read the news.
- eliminate toxic materials from my household.
- never stop learning new things.
- meditate daily.
- smile and laugh.
- spend time outdoors.
- surround myself with positive people.
- enjoy reading.
- dress for comfort.
- keep a clear and simple todo list.
- live up to my promises.
- forget slights against me.
- remember dates that are important to others.
- take my vitamins.
- get plenty of sun.
- breathe deeply at least once per day.
- quit drinking caffeine.
- never drink soda.
- celebrate holidays with enthusiasm.
- wake up early.
- sleep just enough to feel rested.
- relax.
- never overeat, but also never skip meals.
- steer clear of gossip.
- give to charity.
- do good deeds.
- am kind to the elderly.
- never compromise on my morals.
- live an ethical life in terms of how I treat my environment and other living things.
- focus on the distance.
- travel.
- don’t waste time on regret.
- remember that after 2093, I will only exist in memories. The memory of my children will be my immortality.
- never forget that this is not a trial life, or a starter life, or a dress rehearsal.
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